Retaining and replacement means for data-storage elements



July 8, 1969 R. K. FORD ET AL RETAINING AND REPLACEMENT MEANS FORDATA-STORAGE ELEMENTS Original Filed July 11, 1962 FIG. 2

Sheet M6 INVENTORS RONALD K. FORD LOUIS w. TH|ES. JR.

THE ATTORNIEYS July 8, 1969 RD ET AL 3,454,940

RETAINING AND REPLACEMENT MEANS FOR DATA-STORAGE ELEMENTS I OriginalFiled July 11, 1962 Sheet '2 of 6 F|G 5 30: subs 3on4 3on2 3000 10W 610i5 10B 10il FIG. 4

7 STRIP NO.

1 2 INVENTORS 2 RONALD n FORD LOUIS -w. THIES. JR.

THE! ATTORINEYS July 8, 1969 R. K. FORD ETAL 3,454,940

RETAINING AND REPLACEMENT MEANS FOR DATA STORAGE ELEMENTS Original FiledJuly 11, 1962 Sheet 3 of e /)1Q5 no x 122D 105 T INVENTORS RONALD K.FORD LOUIS W. THllES JR.

THEIR ATTORNEYS July 8, 1969 R. K. FORD ET AL RETAINING AND REPLACEMENTMEANS FOR DATA-STORAGE ELEMENTS Original Filed July 11, 1962 Sheet of6FIG. IO

1189 INVENTORS RONALD K. FORD LOUIS w. Tun-:9, JR. 122 4c 103 J 20 BY 710 250% W TH EIR ATTORN EYS July 8, 1969 R. K. FORD ET RBTAINING ANDREPLACEMENT MEANS FOR DATA-STORAGE ELEMENTS SheetiofG Original FiledJuly 11, 1962 FIG. I2

INVENTORS RONALD K. FORD LOUIS W. THIES,JR.

THEI AT TOR NE Y5 July 8, 1969 R. K. FORD ETA!- 3,454,940

RETAINING AND REPLACEMENT MEANS FOR DATA-STORAGE ELEMENTS Original FiledJuly 11, 1962 Sheet 6 of a FIG. l4

2 f/ 500. L' )l 1oo 30M 15541 155 30b? INVENTORS RONALD K. FORD LOUIS w.THIES,JR.

THE R ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,454,940 Patented. July 8,1969 3 454,940 RETAINING AND REPLACEMENT MEANS FOR DATA-STORAGE ELEMENTSRonald K. Ford, Orange, and Louis W. Thies, Jn, Palos Verdes Estates,Califl, assignors to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, acorporation of Maryland Original application July 11, 1962, Ser. No.209,121, now Patent No. 3,267,939, dated Aug. 23, 1966. Divided and thisapplication Feb. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 528,249

Int. Cl. G11]: 3/04, 3/40; G06k 21/04 US. Cl. 340-1741 12 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Random access strip storage apparatusincluding a magazine for a set of coded notched strips from which anyselectedistrip can be randomly released, in response to the operation ofselection rods cooperating with the notched strips, to travel past atransducing means and then automatically returned by a loading meansback to the magazine. An access door providing access to the magazine isaffixed to the loading means which is hinged to the rear wall of themagazine to provide, when the door is opened, for the exposure of twosides of the magazine to thereby facilitate the manual transfer ofstorage strips between the magazine and a cooperating loading cannisterused to properly position a set of notched strips for insertion on orremoval from the rods of the magazine.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 209,121 filed July 11, 1962,and now U.S Patent No. 3,267,939.

This invention relates generally to data-storage apparatus, and to novelmeans and methods for storing, inserting, removing and/or replacing thedata-storage elements used therewith. More particularly, the inventionrelates to novel means and methods for interchanging sets ofdata-storage strips of the type employed with random access storagedevices, such as disclosed in the commonly assigned copendingapplication, Ser. No. 12,032, filed Mar. 1, 1960, and in the Proceedingsof the Eastern Joint Computer Conference, Washington, D.C., Dec. l214,1961, pages 147-157.

The advantages to be derived from a high capacity, rapidly accessiblerandom access storage device for use in a computer system are sonumerous and well recognized as to require little elaboration. However,one of the more difiicult problems which has been encountered in suchrandom access data-storage devices resides in the difiiculty inproviding for the rapid interchangeability of the data-storage elementsemployed therewith since, by their very nature, these random accessdevces are ordinarily constructed and arranged in a manner which doesnot facilitate interchangeability between data-storage elements. As aresult, in many random access devices, it is necessary to providesufficient built-in storage capacity for the maximum amount of datawhich might be required to be stored, thereby greatly increasing thesize as well as the expense of the resultant device, while stillproviding only a limited capacity.

In accordance with the present invention, a most advantageous solutionto this problem .has been devised which will be illustrated for theparticular type of random access data-storage device disclosed in theaforementioned application and publication, By means of the presentinvention, it becomes possible to interchange the entire set ofdata-storage strips employed therewith in less than half a minute. Therandom access device is thus given rapid and convenient access to anunlimited amount of data, since a set of data-storage strips in thedevice may be rapidly replaced by any other set, as desired, withoutdestroying any data which may be stored therein.

Accordingly, it is the broad object of the present invention to provideimproved means and methods for storing, inserting, removing and/orreplacing the data-storage elements employed with a data-storage device.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novelcanister for retaining therein a set of datastorage strips of the typedisclosed in the random access device of the aforementioned copendingapplication and publication, said canister being able to retain the setof strips in protective fashion when apart from the random accessdevice, while facilitating the insertion, removal and/ or replacement ofthe set of strips from the random access device when desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a canister for retaining aset of data-storage strips therein, while being able to compensate forvariations in the overall thickness among different sets of strips.

A further object of this invention is to provide a canister inaccordance with any or all of the preceding objects, which is alsocapable of aiding in the alignment of the strips into the random accessdevice during insertion of a new set of strips.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a construction andarrangement for the portion of the random access device into which a setof data-storage strips is inserted so that interchangeability betweensets is facilitated without interfering with the random access capability of the overall device.

The specific nature of the present invention as well as other objects,uses and advantages thereof will become apparent from the followingdescription of a typical embodiment of the invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical magnetic datastorage stripwhich may be employed with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a basic random access data-storagedevice with which the present invention may be used.

FIG. 3 is a view showing typical selector and suspender rods which maybe provided in the random access device of FIG, 2 for controlling theselection and release of data-storage strips, such as illustrated inFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a View indicating the relative disposition of the data-storagestrip and the selector and suspender rods shortly following theselection and release of a strip.

FIG. 6 is a view of the data-storage strip of FIG. 1, with a part brokenaway, illustrating in detail the manner in which individual strips arecoded.

FIG. 7 is a partial binary truth table indicating the 3 coding schemeemployed for a set of data-storage strips.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a typical embodi ment of adata-storage strip canister in accordance with the invention for use inretaining a set of data-storage elements therein, and for facilitatinginsertion, removal and/or replacement of the set into the random accessdevice of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the canister of FIG. 8.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are respectively top and side partial cross-sectionalviews of the data-storage strip canister of FIGS. 8 and 9 taken alongthe indicated lines 11-11 and 1010 in FIGS. 10 and 11, respectively.

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view showing the basic random accessdevice of FIG. 2 enclosed in an appropriate cabinet.

FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view of FIG. 12 in in the vicinity ofthe cabinet door, the door being shown open to illustrate the magazinewherein a set of datastorage strips may be contained in the randomaccess device, the magazine being shown empty in FIG. 13.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of the interior of themagazine of the random access device illustrating how the data-storagestrip canister of FIGS. 8 and 9 cooperates with corresponding portionsof the ranrom access device to facilitate the insertion or removal of aset of data-storage strips.

Like numerals designate like elements throughout the figures of thedrawings.

Before proceeding with a detailed description of the present invention,the basic random access storage device disclosed in the aforementionedcopending patent application and publication will first be describedwith reference to FIGS. 1-6 in order to provide a background for thedescription of the present invention to follow.

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown an embodiment of a singledata-storage strip 10, such as employed in the random accessdata-storage device of the aforementioned application and publication.It will be seen that the strip 10 is in the form of an elongatedflexible rectangular sheet having parallel side edges 11, bottom edge 12and top edge 13 in which are placed a plurality of specifically formedindentations or notches generally denoted 10: for purposes which will bedescribed later.

Referring next to FIG. 2, a plurality of data-storage strips 10 (such asshown in FIG. 1) are suspended in a magazine represented generally bythe ordinal 2.0. Suspension, selection and release of the' strips areprovided by selecting and releasing means indicated generally by ordinal30. These means comprise a plurality of rods typically illustrated at30b, which are constructed and arranged to support a large number ofstrips 10 and to be operable to select and release any desired one ofthe strips irrespective of its position in the magazine. The strips 10are assigned respective binary code numbers corresponding to the binarynumber represented by the particular arrangement of the notches 101'(FIG. 1), and it is these notches 10i which cooperate with respectiverods 30b to release desired strips at the proper times, as will bedescribed hereinafter. A released strip drops gravitationally into anoperating means indicated gen erally at 40, and into a position in whichits lower end portion engages the periphery of a perforated drum orcapstan 40a comprised in operating means 40. Appropriate portions orarcs of the path of the peripheral inner surface of the capstan 40a are,during appropriate intervals of time, pneumatically connected to suctionmeans for provision of a pressure differential between the exterior andinterior of the capstan whereby the strip is forcibly held in contactwith and is moved by the capstan. During operation of the apparatus, thecapstan is continuously rotated at a suitable speed by driving meanssuch as an electric motor, whereby the engaged strip is very rapidlydriven or transported through the transduc ing region in which themagnetic transducer means indicated generally at 60, are situated.Application of the pressure differential or suction during appropriateintervals and over only certain limited arcs of the peripheral path ofthe capstan permits the strip to follow a course or path only parts ofwhich are coincident with the surface of the capstan, whereby goodcontact with transducing means may be secured, and whereby the strip ispermitted to be guided away from the capstan for return to the magazine.

Electrically controlled and operated switch or gate means indicatedgenerally at 70 are provided to permit, alternatively, theaforementioned immediate return of the strip to the magazine, or one ormore additional passes of the strip past the transducer means. The gate,when open, allows the lower or leading end of the strip to enter araceway formed as part of guide means indicated generally at andextending upwardly and over the magazine 20. When closed, the gateforces the moving strip to follow a path in which the strip is againdrawn by suction into contact with the surface of the capstan andthereby brought around and again passed through the transducing zone.For proper operation of the striptransport means the diameter of thecapstan is such as to provide a circumference of sufficient length topreclude overlap of the leading and trailing ends of a strip when thelatter is being repassed through the transducing zone.

As previously indicated, when operations with a strip by the operatingmeans comprising transport means 40 and transducer means 60 have beencompleted, and the switch or gate means 70 are open, the strip ispropelled upwardly along the guideway in guide means 80 and the stripproceeds by its momentum along the inner surface of the curved upperportion of the guideway, and downwardly past a photoelectric detectormeans indicated by ordinal 90, into a loading means indicated generallyat 50. The loading means serves to arrest the strip in proper positionfor loading onto the suspension means, and to thereafter force thereturned strip onto the suspension and releasing devices in means 30.The deector means 90, which preferably comprises photoelectric detectingmeans, senses arrival of the leading end of the returning strip andinitiates certain loading-means operations, and later senses passage ofthe trailing (upper) end of the strip and initiates other operations ofthe apparatus. It will be understood, that following release of a strip,the strip selecting and releasing means 30 may be temporarily renderedinoperative for releasing another strip, and maintained in thisinoperative status until the dropped strip is removed from the lower(operating) end of the apparatus. The strip selecting and releasingmeans 30 include pneumatic means for intermittently supplying anddirecting narrow streams or currents of air downwardly upon and betweenportions of the suspended strips 10 during appropriate time intervals,for the porpose of keeping the strips separated so any selected andreleased strip will readily descend into the operating means withoutapprecia-ble interference by the other strips.

With the foregoing description of the principle functions of the basicrandom access data-storage device disclosed in the aforementioned patentapplication and publication in view, a more detailed description willnow be presented of the manner in which a data-storage strip may beselectively released by strip selecting and releasing means 30.

As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3-6, the strips 10 are each provided with apair of opposed indentations or notches 10m, 10m disposed at respectiveupper side edges 11. The upper inclined edges provided by these notches10m, 10n cooperate with complementary supporting surfaces of respectiveones of a pair of rotatable suspender rods 30t, 30a as shown in FIGS.3-5. The suspender rods 302, 30a are formed of sector-shapedcross-section as best shown in FIG. 4, and are mounted for rotationabout the axes of the sectors in a frame Iatlz formed as part of stripselecting and releasing means 30. The two suspender rods 30!, 30;: areconstructed and arranged for opposite concurrent rotation outwardly fromthe strips, and inwardly into supportive engagement with the strips.

As indicated in FIGS. 3 and 5, each of the strips comprises a lower endportion 102 (hereinafter termed the leading end), a middle or bodyportion 10b and an upper end portion 10r in which the supporting notches10m, 1011, are located. In the upper marginal edge of each of the stripsthere is formed plurality of undercut indentations or notches generallydenoted 10i and exemplified by notch 10i0, and of which indentationsthere are eight in the exemplary form; and each individual strip has aunique set of retainer lugs or ears generally denoted 10e (such as car10e7, for example) formed integral therewith and disposed at one or theother (left or right) side of a respective one of the notches 10i independence upon a binary code notation to be described.

The retainer lugs or ears We in each strip 10 are adapted forcooperation with respective ones of a set of eight rotatable selectorrods 30b (such as 30b7 for example) which are basically similar to thesuspender rods 30t, 30a in shape, construction and mounting. Theselector rods 30b are adapted to be rotated into and out of engagementwith retainer ears 102 of the strips for selective release of individualones of the strips as presently will be explained. Each of the selectorrods 30b is individually operable.

The system employed to permit selection of any individual strip 10 byoperation of a respective set of selector rods 30b is illustrated inFIGS. 4-7. In accord with principles of the binary system of numbersemployed in the code designation of strips whereby control of releasingof the strips may be easily effected by a digital data-processor, eachof the strips is provided with as many uppermargin notches 10i0, 10i1,1017, each correspondorders in the code numbers used; occurrence of abinary 1 in a code number is represented by a retainer car 102 in aparticular position in the corresponding indentation 10i of the stripbearing that code number. In the illustrative or exemplary apparatusthere are two hundred and fifty-six strips in each set or pack(magazinefull); hence, as indicated in FIG. 5, there are eightuppermargin notches 10i0, 101'1, 10i7, each corresponding to arespective binary order 2, 2 2 2'. Each marginal notch 10i has twosides, left and right, and it is evident that either of the sides may beselected to represent the binary value 1 and the other side the value 0.For purposes of securing more uniform retention and suspension of thestrips, the binary value 1 is assigned to the right side of each of thealternate notches 1010, 1012, 10i4, and 10i6, and to the left side ofeach of the other notches; and the binary value 0 is assigned to thesides opposite those assigned the value 1, all as indicated above forexemplary strip No. 166 in FIG. 6. With the described arrangement, thebinary numbers corresponding to respective decimal numbers 1 through 255may be represented by respective configurations or dispositions ofretainer cars 1042 in the upper marginal notches 10i. Thus, in FIG. 6,the retainer ear configuration for binary number 10100110, correspondingto decimal number 166, is shown as it occurs on the strip of thatdesignation. It is evident, therefore, that to select strip No. 166,selector rods 30b in each of notches 1010, 10i3, 1014, and 1016 must bein or rotated to 0 attitude or position, and the other selector rodssimilarly be in or rotated to 1 position. The configuration of retainercars 10:: for any of the set of strips is readily derived from anordinary truth table which lists all the possible combinations of binarydigits in representation of any specified number of binary positions.For example, a truth table for the eight binary positions required inthe stripcoding in the exemplary apparatus, is depicted in fragmentaryform in FIG. 7. Therein the code designations for the first four strips,the last three strips, and the afore described exemplary strip No. 166are indicated.

As indicated in FIG. 3, a typical strip 10 is shown suspended bysuspender rods 301, 30a, and retained by engagement of selector rods 30bengaging respective retainer ears 30. By reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, itis evident that the ear-configuration corresponds to binary number10100111, or decimal number 167, and hence the strip is identified asstrip No. 167. Thus, it is evident that when strip No. 16 7 is to beselected, selector rods 10i0, 10i1, 1012, 10i5, and 10i7 must be rockedor rotated from the 1 position in which they are shown in FIG. 3 to the0 position, while rods 10i3, 10M, and 10i6 must be left in 1 position.For the selection of this exemplary strip, therefore, activating currentsignals will be supplied to the respective actuators for the particularselector rods 30b to be moved, and no current signals will be suppliedto the other selector rod actuators. Following operation of the requiredset of selector rods 30b in response to receipt of the respective set ofsignals from a processoroperated controller, the selected strip willfall slightly so as to rest on the two suspender rods 30t, 301: whichare then rocked outwardly to permit the selected strip to drop under theinfluence of gravity. It is evident that during the interval in whichthe suspender rods 301, 30a are rocked outwardly, all other stripsexcepting the selected strip will remain suspended from the selectorrods 30b.

Having described the basic random access storage device disclosed in theaforementioned copending patent application Ser. No. 12,032, and thenature of the datastorage strips 10 employed therewith, it will now beexpedient to consider a specific embodiment of the present invention inconnection with FIGS. 8-14.

Reference will first be had to FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11, which respectivelyshow front and rear perspective views, and top and side cross-sectionalviews of a preferred embodiment of a data-storage strip canister whichmay advantageously be used for retaining a set of data-storage strips 10(each as shown in FIG. 1) when apart from the basic random accessstorage device, while also serving to facilitate the insertion orremoval of the set of strips 10 from the random access storage devicewhen desired. It will be seen that the body portion of the canister 100is basically comprised of integral Walls 103 and 105 disposed at rightangles to one another, and an integral bottom plate 107 disposed atright angles to walls 103 and 105. As best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, aset of strips 10 is retained in the canister 100 with the face of theoutermost strip at one side of the set abutting wall 105, the long edgesat one side of the set of strips abutting wall 103, the bottom edges ofthe strips resting on bottom plate 107, and the face of the outermoststrip at the opposite side of the set abutting against a buck plate 110,the top edges and the other long side edges of the set of strips beingexposed. The buck plate 110 includes a strengthening brace 110a and isnormally urged against the set of strips to hold them tightly in placein the canister 100. The length of the walls 103 and 105 and the buckplate 110 is at least sufficiently less than the length of the strips 10so as to permit the notches 10i therein to be exposed for insertion.into the selection rods of the random access device, as willhereinafter be described.

First, however, it will be described how the buck plate 110 is normallyurged against the set of strips 10 and how it may conveniently andrapidly be loosened therefrom when it i desired to either remove the setof strips from the canister 100, or to insert a new set of strips intothe canister 100. Referring particularly to the top cross-sectional viewof FIG. 10 along with the rear perspective view of FIG. 9, it will beseen that the head portions 112a of studs 112 are rigidly aflixed to thecentral portion of buck plate 110 and extend perpendicularly outwardtherefrom passing through coil springs 115, holes 118a in a controlbracket 118, and lock washers 13, in that order, as best shown in thetop view of FIG. 10. It will be understood therefore, that controlbracket 118 is elfectively coupled to buck plate 110 through springs115. The purpose of this 7 spring coupling between control bracket 118and buck plate 110 is to facilitate locking the buck plate 110 tightlyinto position against the strips 10, as will be explained in more detailhereinafter.

Still referring to FIGS. 8-11, the details of the control bracket 118will now be considered. It will be seen that the control bracket 118 ismade up of the following integral portions: (1) a depending portion 118b(FIGS. 9-ll) which contains the holes 118a through which the studs 112are passed, (2) a neck portion 1180 (FIGS. 9-11) which passes through aslot 103a in wall 103, (3) a transverse portion 118d whose edges areslidable in grooves 122a of guide rails 122, which guide rails 122 areaffixed by retaining screws, such as 122b, to wall 103 within protectiveridges 103b provided integral with wall 103, and (4) a flange portion118a (FIGS. 8, and 11) depending perpendicularly from transverse portion118d and capable of being operated by the fingers of a human operator soas to permit sliding the control bracket 118 back and forth in groove122a of guide rails 122 during insertion or removal of a set of strips10 from the canister 100. Since the buck plate 110.is coupled to thecontrol bracket 118 by way of springs 115 and studs 112 (as describedpreviously) it will be understood that the buck plate 110 will moveaccordingly along with bracket 118.

It will now be described how, during insertion of a set of strips 10into the canister 100, the control bracket 118 may be locked into placein a position such that the buck plate 110 (which moves in accordancetherewith) bears tightly against the set of strips 10 so as to firmlyretain the strips in the canister 100; it will also be described how thecontrol bracket 118 may then be subsequently unlocked when it is desiredto remove the set of strips from the canister 100.

Referring to FIG. 8, it will be understood that a locking lever 130having a ratchet 130a is rotatably mounted at the right end thereof (asseen in FIG. 8) about pivot screw 132 affixed to the extreme right endof upper guide rail 122. The locking lever 130 is normally biaseddownwardly by the action of a spring 133 connected between a pin 135(afiixed near the center of upper guide rail 122) and a narrow portion103b projecting from the right end of locking lever 130 and integraltherewith. The ratchet 130a of locking lever 130 is adapted to cooperatewith a tooth 140a depending perpendicularly from engaging member 140,which is in turn aflixed to the transverse portion 118d of the controlbracket 118 by screws 14Gb (see also FIGS. 10 and 11). The cooperationbetween the ratchet 130a and tooth 140a is such that when the ratchet130a is in engagement with tooth 140a as a result of the bias providedby spring 133, the control bracket 118 can be slid on guide rails 122only towards wall 105 (that is, to the right in FIG. 8), and not in thereverse direction. Movement of the control bracket 118 in the reversedirection is possible only by lifting ratchet 130a clear of tooth 140a,which may conveniently be accomplished by lifting flange 1300, which isprovided on locking lever 130 for this purpose.

In view of the foregoing, it will be understood that a set of strips 10may be conveniently and rapidly inserted into canister 100 as follows.First, flange 1300 of locking lever 130 is momentarily lifted to permitcontrol bracket 118 to be slid on guide rails 122 sufficiently to theleft (as seen in FIG. 8) so as to leave ample space for the set ofstrips 10 to be inserted between buck plate 110 (FIG. 9) and wall 105.Then, with the canister 100 held generally vertical as shown in FIGS. 8and 9, the set of strips are inserted in the space provided so that onecorner of the set of strips abuts against walls 103 and 105, while thebottom edges of the strips 10 rest on bottom plate 107. Next, withflange 1300 in its normal position so that ratchet 130a and tooth 1400are engaged, control bracket 118 is moved (under finger pressure) to theright as seen in FIG. 8, until the buck plate 110 (FIG. 9)

abuts against the set of strips 10. Movement of the control bracket 118to the right then continues (still under finger pressure) so as tocompress springs 115 which in turn act on buck plate to cause it to beartightly on the set of strips 10. The resulting bias of the compressedsprings will then act on tooth 140a to cause it to lock firmly inengagement with the ratchet a in the rightmost notch thereof which isreached in moving the control bracket 118 to the right under fingerpressure. The set of strips 10 will then be locked in the canister 100,as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

It will be understood that considerable variations in thicknesses amongsets of strips can be tolerated in the above-described canister 100,since ratchet 130a provides a plurality of spaced notches which areavailable for locking engagement with tooth a, the springs 115 coupledbetween control bracket 118 and buck plate 110 serving to provideadequate bearing pressure on the set of strips 10 regardless of theparticular notch in which tooth 140a locks. It will also be understoodthat removal of a set of strips 10 from the canister 100 may beaccomplished simply by lifting up flange 130a of locking lever 130 tounlock tooth 140a from ratchet 130a, thereby permitting control bracket118 to be slid to the left in FIG. 8 to free the set of strips 10 forremoval from the canister 100.

The only portions of the canister 100 which have not yet been consideredare the upwardly extending hooks (FIGS. 8 and 9) affixed by screws a toa rectangular block 155 integral with the top portion of wall 103, and alower step (FIGS. 8 and 9) also integral with wall 103 and extendingperpendicularly therefrom slightly below the lower end of wall 103. Thedistance that the portion 16% of step 160 extends perpendicularly fromwall 103 is chosen along with the perpendicular extending distances ofridges 1031; and block 155 so that the canister 100 may be firmly restedin a horizontal position on these portions, such as may be desired forstorage purposes. The portion 160a of step 160 which extends below thelower end of wall 103 and the hooks 150 which extend above the upper endof wall 103 are important in facilitating insertion and removal of a setof data-storage strips 10 from the basic random access device shown inFIG. 2, as will be described hereinafter.

Now that a preferred embodiment of the canister 100 has been describedin connection with FIGS. 8-11, it will next be explained how thecanister 100 cooperates with the basic random access device previouslydescribed in connection with FIGS. 1-7 so as to permit convenientinsertion, removal and/or replacement of a set of datastorage strips.

Referring to FIG. 12, the basic random access device of FIG. 2 isillustrated as it might appear when enclosed in a suitable cabinet 200,the upper portion of the guide means 80 of FIG. 2 being shown dashed inFIG. 12 in order to indicate the general positioning of the FIG. 2device in the cabinet 200. The magazine 20 of FIG. 2 is also indicatedin FIG. 12 and will be seen to contain a set of data-storage strips 10which are visible through an opening 201 in the cabinet 200 and a window202 of an access door 205 provided to permit access to the magazine 20,the height of the door 205 being approximately equal to the length of adata-storage strip. The door 205 is rigidly affixed to the loading means50 (FIGS. 2 and 12) at right angles thereto, and upon suitable actuationof a release latch 206 provided in the back end of the loading means 50,the door 205 can be swung open to expose the strips 10, while theloading means 50 swings from its normal position adjacent the selectingand releasing means 30 (FIG. 2) into the opening 208 provided in cabinet200. A tubular cylinder 212 also shown in FIG. 12 is slidable on fixedrod 213 and is adapted to cooperate with hooks 150 of the canister 100(FIGS. 8 and 9) to aid in the insertion or removal of a set ofdatastorage strips 10, as will hereinafter be described.

FIG. 13 is a partial view of the portion of the cabinet 200 of FIG. 12in the immediate vicinity of the magazine 20, except that the door 205in FIG. 13 is shown open to a position almost perpendicular to cabinet200, so that the loading means 50 to which the door 205 is rigidlyafixed will have been swung into opening 208; the rotation of the door205 and the loading means 50 (which rotate together) is about the hinges50a provided between the left edge of the loading means 50 (as seen inFIG. 13) and a housing 210 forming the back side of the magazine 20.

It is to be noted that the magazine 20 in FIG. 13 is shown empty, thatis, no data-storage strips are disposed therein. This is done in orderto permit the selector and suspender rods generally indicated by thenumeral 30 to be visible. These selector and suspender rods wereconsidered earlier in connection with FIGS. 3-6 and it will beremembered that it is these rods which engage the notches 10i (FIG. 1)of a set of data-storage strips 10, and control the release andselection thereof. When the door 205 is closed, such as is the case inFIG. 12, the loading means 50, and particularly its loading plate 50b(which is shaped generally similar to a strip 10), will be in closeproximity to the selection and suspender rods 30, with the notches 50iof the loading plate 50b in alignment therewith; the notches 50i areidentical to the notches 10i of a strip, except that all retainer ears106 (FIG. 5) are omitted. It will be understood, therefore, that when astrip is received by the loading means 50 from the guide means 80 (FIGS.2 and 12), and comes to rest against loading plate 50b, its notches 10iwill be aligned with notches 501' of the loading plate 50b, which are inturn in alignment with the selection rods. Thus, the strip mayconveniently be returned to the magazine merely by causing the loadingplate 50b to be momentarily driven a short distance forward onto theselection rods, the datastorage strip 10 then being carried onto therods along therewith. It will be understood that the specificconstruction and arrangement of the loading means 50 for producing thisoperation may take various suitable forms, a typical form beingdisclosed in the aforementioned copending patent application, Ser. No.12,032, filed Mar. 1, 1960. Details of the loading means 50 will not beconsidered herein, since such details are not material to the presentinvention. It is sufficient for the present invention merely tounderstand that when the door 205 is closed, as in FIG. 12, the loadingmeans 50 is in an appropriate position to receive a data-storage stripfrom guide means 80 (FIGS. 2 and 12) and to cause the received strip tobe returned to the magazine 20 in proper engagement with the selectorand suspender rods 30 as a result of the action of the loading plate50b, as just described.

Reference is now directed to FIG. 14 along with FIGS. 12 and 13 for thepurpose of describing how a set of data-storage strips 10 retained in acanister 100, such as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 may be inserted into theempty magazine 20 illustrated in FIG. 13. Only the portions of therandom access device concerned with this insertion operation are shownin FIG. 14 in order not to confuse the figure. Initially, it is to benoted from FIGS. 12-14 that when the door 205 is open to its fullposition (the door 205 is shown almost fully open in FIG. 13), theloading means 50 will be clear of the selector and suspender rods 30,leaving sufficient space between the door 205 and the rods 30 forinsertion of the canister 100, as shown in FIG. 14. The specific mannerin which the set of data-storage strips 10 retained in canister 100 areinserted onto the selector and suspender rods 30 is as follows.

First, the door of the cabinet 200 is opened wide and the tubularcylinder 212 (FIGS. 12-14) is slid over to the extreme right overopening 208 (FIGS. 12 and 13) in the cabinet 200. Then, with thecanister 100 held at an angle of approximately from the horizontal, asgenerally indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 14, the hooks 150 areplaced on the reduced portions: 212a of tubular cylinder 212, and thecanister is pivoted about tubular cylinder 212 (as indicated by thearrow 250 in FIG. 14) until the portion 160a of step 160 on the canisterabuts against stop member 220 (FIGS. 13 and 14). The resultant positionof the canister 100 will then be as shown in FIG. 14, with the selectorrod notches 10i010i7 (FIGS. 6 and 14) aligned with their respectiveselector rods 30b0-30b7 (FIGS. 3 and 5) and the suspender rod notches10m and 10n aligned with their respective suspender rods 30! and 30a. Itwill be understood, therefore, that the above-described cooperationbetween hooks 150 and portion 160a of canister 100, with tubularcylinder 212 and stop member 220, respectively, of the basic randomaccess device, makes it possible to rapidly and conveniently bring thenotches of the set of data-storage strips retained in the canister 100into alignment with their respective selector and suspender rods.

Having positioned the canister 100 as shown in FIG. 14, the next step inthe operation is to move the canister to the left (as indicated by thearrow 260 in FIG. 14) while applying suflicient downward pressure sothat the hooks 150 (and thus also the canister 100) will slide in unisonwith tubular cylinder 212, which in turn slides on rod 213. Since thenotches of the set of data-storage strips 10 have been brought intoalignment with respective ones of the selector and suspender rods 30, asdescribed in the previous paragraph, movement of the canister 100 to theleft (while still maintaining portion 160a of the canister 100 abuttingagainst stop member 220) will thereby cause the notches of the set ofdata-storage strips to become engaged with their respective selector andsuspender rods. Movement of the canister to the left (that is, in thedirection of the arrow 260 in FIG. 14) is continued in this manner untilall of the data-storage strips 10 retained in the canister 100 aresuspended on the rods 30, which occurs when the canister 100 has beenmoved on tubular cylinder 212 approximately to the center of housing 210(FIG. 13). The data-storage strips 10 and then released from thecanister 100 as described previously-that is, by lifting flange 1300 oflocking member 130 (FIG. 8) of the canister 100, and then slidingcontrol bracket 118 away from wall so as to remove the buck plate (FIG.9) from against the set of strips 10. With the strips 10 thus free ofthe canister 100, the empty canister is then pivoted outward from themagazine 20 (opposite to arrow 250 in FIG. 14) and its hooks lifted offof tubular cylinder 212, leaving the set of datastorage strips properlyengaged with the rods 30 in the magazine 20. The door 205 is then closedagain, thereby rotating the loading means 50 back into operativeposition adjacent the rods '30. The random access device is then readyto operate on the newly inserted set of datastorage strips 10.

It will be appreciated that the above-described operations required forinserting a set of data-strorage strips into the magazine 20 of therandom access device can be performed quite rapidly and, in fact, canquite easily be performed in less than thirty seconds. Removal of a setof data-storage strips can likewise be accomplished jut as fast andinvolves a procedure which is essentially the reverse of the previouslydescribed insertion procedure. More specifically, when it is desired toremove a set of data-storage strips 10 from the magazine 20, the tubularcylinder 212 is first slid over to the left side of the magazine 20(FIG. 13) if it is not already there. The data-storage strips in themagazine are then formed into a pack and held together with the .fingerswhile the books of an empty canister 100 (with the control bracket 118positoned to provide a sufiicient opening between buck plate 110 andwall 105 to receive the set of strips) are fitted onto reduced portions212a of tubular cylinder 212. The canister is then pivoted into themagazine 20 (in the direction of arrow 250 in FIG. 14) and the packedstrips are placed so as to rest on bottom plate 107 between wall 105 andbuck plate 110 (FIG. 9). The control bracket 118 is then moved by fingerpressure, (while maintaining the strips uniformly packed) until thestrips are tightly and uniformly retained between buck plate 110 andwall 105, as shown in FIG. 9. As described previously, the tooth 140a ofengaging member 140 (FIGS. 8 and 14) will lock in the last notch ofratchet 130a reached so as to firmly retain the set of strips in thecanister. The strip-filled canister 100 is then slid on tubular cylinder212 to the right (opposite to arrow 260 in FIG. 14) until thedata-storage strips slide off the selection rods 30b, so as to returnthe canister 100 to the position shown in FIG. 14. The canister is thenpivoted out of the magazine again (opposite to arrow 250 in FIG. 14) andthe hooks 150 lifted off of the tubular cylinder 212, thereby completelyremoving the canister 100 and the set of strips retained therein fromthe random access device.

It is to be noted that in the initial description of the basic randomaccess device in connection with FIGS. 1-7, it was mentioned that airstreams are suitably applied during operation of the device to separatethe strips in order to insure reliable release of a selected strip. Itis preferable that these air streams be turned off during removal orinsertion of a set of strips to prevent these air streams frominterfering with the insertion or removal procedure. Once a set ofstrips has been inserted into the magazine 20, the air streams may beturned on again to separate the newly inserted strips.

While the foregoing disclosure has been concerned with certainillustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention issusceptible of many modifications and variations in both constructionand arrangement, as well as being subject to uses other than thosedescribed herein. The present invention, therefore, is not to beconsidered as limited to the specific disclosure provided herein, but isto be considered as including all modifications and variations comingwithin the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a data-storage device including a magazine capableof containing a plurality of individual data-storage elements for usewith said device, and canister means for retaining said data-storageelements when apart from said device, said canister means also servingto facilitate insertion of said elements into said device as well asremoval therefrom, said data-storage device including slidable pivotmeans for receiving said canister means during insertion or removal ofsaid elements, said canister means including means for retaining saidelements locked between two surfaces, said canister means also includingunlocking means which permit separation of said surfaces and removal ofthe elements therebetween, said canister means further including pivotreceiving means for cooperating with said pivot means of saiddata-storage device during insertion or removal of said elements so asto permit said retaining means to be pivoted into said magazine forinsertion or removal of said elements.

2. The combination of a data-storage device including a magazine capableof containing a plurality of individual data-storage elements for usewith said device, and canister means for retaining said data-storageelements when apart from said device, said canister means also servingto facilitate insertion of said elements into said device as well asremoval therefrom, said data-storage device including slidable pivotmeans and alignment means for receiving and aligning said canister meansduring insertion or removal of said elements, said canister meansincluding means for retaining said elements locked between two surfaces,said canister means also including unlocking means which permitseparation of said surfaces and removal of the elements therebetween,said canister means further including pivot receiving means and stopmeans for respectively cooperating with said pivot means and saidalignment means of said data-storage device so as to permit saidcanister means to be pivoted into said magazine and stopped at apredetermined position appropriate for the insertion or removal of saidelements.

3. Random access data-storage means comp-rising: a cabinet, a pluralityof data-storage elements, a magazine including retaining and releasingmeans for releasing a selected one of said elements regardless of itsposition in the group, a pivotable loading means normally adjacent saidretaining and releasing means and constructed and arranged to returnelements thereto, an access door in said cabinet for providing access tosaid magazine, and means affixing said door to said loading means sothat when said door is opened said loading means is pivoted from itsnormal position adjacent said retaining and releasing means to aposition which leaves sufficient space therebetween to permit insertionor removal of said datastorage elements.

4. Random access data-storage means comprising: a plurality ofdata-storage strips having notches at one end thereof, retaining andreleasing means for retaining a group of said strips and for releasingany selected one of said strips from the group regardless of itsposition therein, said retaining and releasing means including aplurality of rods for retaining said strips, said rods cooperating withsaid notches so that the positions of said rods determine the selectedone of said strips to be released, a pivotable loading means normallyadjacent said retaining means and operative to return a data-storagestrip back onto the rods of said retaining and releasing means, andmeans coupled to said loading means for permitting said loading means tobe swung from its normal position adjajacent said retaining andreleasing means to a position which leaves suflicient space therebetweento permit insertion or removal of said data-storage strips.

5. Random access data-storage means comprising: retaining and releasingmeans for retaining a set of datastorage strips and for selectivelyreleasing any selected one of said strips from the set regardless of itsposition therein, said strips having notches at one end thereof, saidretaining and releasing means including a plurality of selector rods ofnon-symmetrical cross-section, said selector rods cooperating with saidnotches so that the positions to which said rods are rotated determinethe selected one of said strips to be released thereby, transducing andoperating means for engaging a released strip and capable of performinga transducing operation thereon, disengaging means for disengaging astrip from said transducing and operating means and including guidemeans along which said strip is caused to travel after disengagement,pivotally mounted loading means normally adjacent the rods of saidretaining and releasing means and operative to receive a strip from saidguide means and to return the received strip back onto the rods of saidretaining and releasing means, and means cooperating with said loadingmeans to permit said loading means to be pivoted from its normalposition adjacent said rods to a position which leaves sufiicient roomtherebetween for the insertion, removal or replacement of a set ofdata-storage strips with respect to said rods.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 5, wherein said loading meansincludes a loading plate of the same general shape as a data-storagestrip and having notches aligned with said rods, said loading platebeing positioned in said loading means so that a data-storage stripreceived from said guide means will come to rest adjacent said loadingplate and between said loading plate and said rods, said loading meansthen being operative to cause the notches of said loading plate tomomentarily be moved onto said rods so as to carry the receiveddata-storage strip along therewith.

7. Random access data-storage means comprising: a cabinet, a magazineincluding retaining and releasing means for retaining a set of stripsand for releasing any selected one of said strips from the setregardless of its position therein, said strips having notches at oneend thereof, said retaining and releasing means including a plurality ofselector rods of non-symmetrical cross-section, said selector rodscooperating with said notches so that the positions to which said rodsare rotated determine the selected one of said strips to be releasedthereby, transducing and operating means for engaging a released stripand capable of performing a transducing operation thereon, disengagingmeans for disengaging a strip from said transducing and operating meansand including guide means along which said strip is caused to travelafter disengagement, said magazine also including loading meanspivotally hinged to the magazine and normally adjacent the rods of saidretaining means and operative to receive a strip from said guide meansand to return the received strip back onto the rods of said retainingand releasing means, and means including a magazine access door in saidcabinet cooperating with said loading means to permit said loading meansto be pivoted from its normal position adjacent said rods to a positionwhich leaves sufficient room therebetween for the insertion, removal orreplacement of a set of data-storage strips with respect to said rods.

8. The combination in a random access device of a data-storage deviceoperable with a set of generally rectangular data-storage strips havingnotches at one short edge thereof, and a canister for retaining the setof datastorage strips when apart from said device While serving tofacilitate insertion, removal or replacement of said set with respect tosaid device; said data-storage device comprising: a cabinet, a magazineincluding retaining and releasing means for retaining the set of saidstrips and for releasing any selected one of said strips from the setregardless of its position therein, said retaining and releasing meansincluding a plurality of selector rods of non-symmetrical cross-section,said selector rods cooperating with said notches so that the positionsto which said rods are rotated determine the selected one of said stripsto be released thereby, transducing and operating means for engaging areleased strip and capable of performing a transducing operationthereon, disengaging means for disengaging a strip from said transducingand operating means and including guide means along which said strip iscaused to travel after disengagement, said magazine also includingloading means normally adjacent the rods of said retaining means andoperative to receive a strip from said guide means and to return thereceived strip back onto the rods of said retaining and releasing means,and means including a magazine access door in said cabinet cooperatingwith said loading means so that when said door is opened said loadingmeans is moved from its normal position adjacent said rods to a positionwhich leaves suflicient room therebetween for the insertion, removal orreplacement of a set of data-storage strips with respect to said rods,slidable pivot means above said magazine and accessible through anopening in said cabinet, and canister alignment means also provided insaid magazine; said canister comprising: a body portion having first andsecond generally rectangular walls at substantially right angles to oneanother and a bottom plate at substantially right angles to both of saidwalls, the length of said walls being chosen so that when the bottomshort edges of said strips are rested on said bottom plate the notchesof said strips will extend above said walls, a control bracket slidablymounted to said second wall in the central vicinity thereof for movementin a direction substantially perpendicular to said first wall, a movablegenerally rectangular plate having approximately the same length as saidfirst wall and disposed substantially parallel to and spaced therefromso as to permit a set of datastorage strips to be disposed therebetweenwhile resting on said bottom plate, and spring means coupling saidcontrol bracket to said movable plate so that said control bracket canbe moved to a position such that said plate will be spring biasedagainst a set of data-storage strips when interposed between said firstwall and said movable plate, releasable locking means for locking saidcontrol bracket in said position, said locking means including a ratchetaffixed to said second wall and a tooth affixed to said control bracketin cooperative relation to said ratchet, hook means extending upwardfrom said canister means beyond the edges of said strips, and a stepincluding a portion extending below said canister; s'aid hook means andsaid portion of the canister respectively cooperating with said slidablepivot means and said alignment means of the random access device so asto permit the canister to be pivoted into said magazine and stopped in aposition such that the notches of the set of strips are aligned withsaid rods, whereupon sliding movement of the canister on said slidablepivot causes the notches of the set of strips to he slid onto the rodsof said retaining and releasing means.

9. The combination of a data-storage device operating with a pluralityof individual data-storage elements, and canister means for releasablyholding said data-storage elements when apart from said device, saidcanister means also serving to facilitate insertion of said elementsinto said device as well as removal therefrom, said data-storage deviceincluding a magazine into which said canister can be inserted, retainingmeans for retaining said elements as an assembled group in saidmagazine, and an aligning surface in said magazine having apredetermined relation to said retaining means, said canister meansincluding a body portion having two walls between which said elementscan be retained, one of said walls being movable with respect to theother, said canister means also including an aligning surface having apredetermined relationship with respect to said walls and located so asto cooperate with aligning surface of said data-storage device when saidcanister is inserted in said magazine for engagement of said elementswith said retaining means or removal therefrom.

10. Th invention in accordance with claim 9, wherein said retainingmeans comprises a plurality of spaced parallel rods substantially in asingle plane, wherein said datastorage elements comprise a plurality ofstrips having notches at one end thereof spaced in accordance with saidrods, said notches extending above the walls of said canister when saidstrips are held therein, and wherein the aligning surfaces of saidcanister and said magazine are constructed and arranged so that whensaid canister is inserted into said magazine with said aligning surfacesin abutting relation the notches of said strips will be aligned withsaid rods for insertion thereon or removal therefrom.

11. A data-storage system operating with a plurality of individualdata-storage strips, said system comprising: a magazine having analigning surface, retaining and releasing means for engaging said stripsas an assembled group in said magazine and for releasing a selected onethereof for removal from said magazine, loading means adjacent saidretaining and releasing means for automatically returning a releasedstrip back to said magazine and into engagement with said retaining andreleasing means, a canister for releasably holding a plurality of saidstrips, said canister including an aligning surface having apredetermined relation with respect to the location of said strips whenin said canister, means for moving said loading means so as to leave asufiicient opening adjacent said retaining and releasing means forinsertion of said canister into said magazine with said aligningsurfaces in a predetermined cooperative relation with one another, saidaligning surfaces being constructed and arranged so that when in saidpredetermined cooperative relation said strips will be in properalignment with respect to said canister and said retaining and releasingmeans for engagement therewith or removal therefrom.

15 16 12. The invention in accordance with claim 11, wherein ReferencesCited said retaining and releasing means comprises a plurality UNITEDSTATES PATENTS of spaced parallel rods substantially in a single plane,

wherein said data-storage strips have notches at one end E s f g'i :11 fd' d 'th d 'd th 1 ac ereo space in accor ance w1 said r0 s, Sal no c es5 2,918,656 12/1959 Nolde et a1 340h 174 1 extending above the walls ofsaid canister when said strips are held therein, and wherein thealigning surfaces of said canister and said magazine are constructed andarranged BERNARD KONICK P'mmry Exammgr' so that when said canister isinserted into said magazine W. F. WHITE, Assistant Examiner. with saidaligning surfaces in said predetermined coopera- 10 tive relation to thenotches of said strips will be aligned with said rods for insertionthereon or removal therefrom. 1 27 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,454 ,940 July 8 1969 Ronald K.Ford et alt It is certified that error appears in the above identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 35, "10i0, l0il, l0i7, each correspond-" should read l0ior indentations as there are binary Column 6, line 72, "13" should read113 Signed and sealed this 21st day of April 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. E. J

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

